Percussive Swing Training Assembly

ABSTRACT

A percussive swing training assembly incorporating a flexible tie having a radially outer end, having a radially inner end, and having a medial section spanning between said ends; a percussive contact element; a radially outer swivel joint positioning the percussive contact element at the flexible tie&#39;s radially outer end and facilitating rotation of the percussive contact element with respect to the flexible tie&#39;s radially outer end; a medial handle; a medial swivel joint positioning the medial handle at the flexible tie&#39;s medial section and facilitating rotation of the flexible tie&#39;s medial section with respect to the medial handle; a radially inner handle; and a radially inner swivel joint positioning the radially inner handle at the flexible tie&#39;s radially inner end and facilitating rotation of the flexible tie&#39;s radially inner end with respect to the radially inner handle.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to apparatus and assemblies adapted for facilitating the training of sporting percussive swings such as baseball batting, cricket batting, and hockey puck striking. More particularly, this invention relates to such assemblies which orbit a percussive contact element about a coach or trainer upon a tether or tie.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Known percussive swing training assemblies having an orbiting percussive contact element may perform ineffectively or inefficiently as a result of violent counter-orbiting motions of the percussive contact element upon striking of such element. Also, such known assemblies commonly excessively twist their tethers or ties upon striking of the percussive contact element. Such known assemblies also commonly lack any capacity for convenient interchange and replacement of their percussive contact elements.

The instant inventive percussive swing training assembly solves or ameliorates the problems, defects, and deficiencies noted above by incorporating specialized structural and functional features and components which resist violent counter-orbiting motions about a coach or trainer, which resist tether twisting, and which promote interchange and replacements of the assembly's percussive contact element.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first structural component of the instant inventive percussive swing training assembly comprises a flexible tie having a radially outer end, a radially inner end, and having a medial section spanning between the radially outer and the radially inner ends. In a preferred embodiment, the flexible tie comprises a length of ¼ inch durable rope or cord.

A further structural component of the instant inventive assembly comprises a percussive contact element. In a preferred embodiment, the percussive contact element has a size and geometric configuration which is consistent with those of common strikeable sports projectiles such as little league baseballs, junior league baseballs, college or professional league baseballs, softballs, cricket balls, and hockey pucks. Provided that retro-fitting modifications are applied in accordance with the requirements of the invention, an actual baseball, softball, cricket ball, or hockey puck may be utilized as the instant invention's percussive contact element.

A further structural component of the instant inventive percussive swing training assembly comprises radially outer mounting means. In the preferred embodiment, such means are adapted for fixedly positioning the percussive contact element at the flexible tie's radially outer end. Also in the preferred embodiment, the radially outer mounting means are adapted for facilitating rotation of the percussive contact element with respect to the flexible tie's radially outer end. Suitably, the radially outer mounting means may comprise a common swivel hook or swivel eye. However, in the preferred embodiment, the radially outer mounting means comprise a progressively tiered hollow bore which extends through the percussive contact element and opens at such element's radially outer and radially inner ends.

Further structural components of the instant inventive assembly comprise a medial handle and medial mounting means fixedly positioning the medial handle upon the flexible tie's medial section. In a preferred embodiment, the medial mounting means are adapted for facilitating rotations of the flexible tie's medial section with respect to the medial handle. Suitably, the medial mounting means may comprise a common swivel hook or swivel eye. However, similarly with the radially outer mounting means, the medial mounting means preferably comprise hollow bore which extends through the medial handle and opens at such handle's radially outer and radially inner ends.

Further structural components of the instant inventive percussive swing training assembly comprise a radially inner handle and radially inner mounting means which fixedly position the radially inner handle at the flexible tie's radially inner end. In the preferred embodiment, the radial inner mounting means are adapted for facilitating rotation of the flexible tie's radial inner end with respect to the radially inner handle. Suitably, the radially inner mounting means may comprise a simple swivel hook or swivel eye. However, like the radially outer and medial mounting means, the radially inner mounting means preferably comprise a hollow bore which extends through the radially inner handle and opens at radially outer and radially inner ends of such handle.

A further preferred component of the instant inventive percussive swing training assembly comprises a radially outer stop which operatively spans between the radially outer end of the flexible tie and the radially outer end of the percussive contact element. Preferably, such radially outer stop incorporates rotary bearing surfaces which are adapted for resisting radially inwardly directed extractions of the radially outer end of the flexible tie from the preferably provided hollow bore configured radially outer mounting means. Suitably, such radially outer stop may comprise a sleeve bearing and swivel head combination.

Further preferred components comprise a pair of knot configured stops which are positioned at the radially inner ends of the medial and radially inner handles.

In use of the instant inventive percussive swing training assembly, and assuming that the assembly is utilized in baseball batting training, an athlete in need of such training may approach a home plate marker with bat in hand, and may stand within a laterally adjacent batter's box area. Thereafter, or substantially simultaneously, a batting coach or trainer may stand at an oppositely lateral location while holding the inventive assembly. Assuming that the batter is right-handed, the training coach may grasp the medial handle in his or her right hand while the assembly's radially inner handle is grasped in his or her left hand. Thereafter, the coach may swing the percussive contact element in a counter-clockwise orbiting fashion causing the percussive contact element to cyclically intersect a strike zone area overlying the home plate marker. As the percussive contact element approaches such strike zone, the athlete may swing the bat in a manner common to batting a pitched ball in a baseball game.

During such cyclic orbiting motion of the percussive contact element, the medial and radially inner portions of the flexible tie freely rotate within the preferably hollow bore configured swivel joint mounts within the medial and inwardly radial handles. Such free rotation advantageously resists twisting of the flexible tie during the batting training. In the event of off-center striking of the percussive contact element by the bat, a violent spin is often imposed upon the percussive contact element. In the event of such bat contact imposed spinning, the preferably provided hollow bore configured swivel joint within the percussive contact element similarly advantageously resists twisting deformation of the flexible tie.

Upon a strike of such baseball bat against the percussive contact element, such element is typically forcefully driven in a counter-orbiting trajectory which may awkwardly wind about the batting coach. To resist such counter-orbiting winding, the coach may, upon hearing the strike of the bat, release the medial handle from his or her right hand. Such release instantaneously increases the effective orbital radius of the tie, and advantageously resists and prevents such counter-winding of the assembly's tether. In a preferred embodiment, the length of the portion of the medial section of the flexible tie which extends radially inwardly from the medial handle to the radially inward handle is between four and six feet, such additional length being sufficient to prevent violent counter-winding of the percussive contact element upon ball striking.

In order to ergonomically assist the batting coach in the performance of the above described medial handle release upon striking of the percussive contact element, the medial handle is preferably spherical or spheroidally configured. Such geometry advantageously allows the handle to easily slide from the coach's hand and fingers. For purposes of economy in production of components and parts, each radially inward handle is preferably configured substantially identically with the preferably spherically or spheroidally configured medial handles.

Accordingly, objects of the instant invention include the provision of a percussive swing training assembly which incorporates structures as described above, and which arranges those structures in relation to each other in the manners described above for the performance of the beneficial functions described above.

Other and further objects, benefits, and advantages of the instant invention will become known to those skilled in the art upon review of the Detailed Description which follows, and upon review of the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the instant percussive swing training assembly.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a percussive contact element component of the assembly of FIG. 1, as indicated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a disassembled sleeve component of the assembly of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a handle component of the assembly of FIG. 1, as indicated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 depicts the instant inventive assembly in batting training use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to Drawing FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of the instant inventive percussive swing training assembly is referred to generally by Reference Arrow 1. A major structural component of the assembly 1 comprises a flexible tie which is referred to generally Reference Arrow 3. The flexible tie 3 has a radially inner end 6 and, referring further simultaneously to Drawing FIG. 2, has a radially outer end which is referred to generally by Reference Arrow 11. A medial section 8 of the flexible tie spans between the radially outer end 11 and the radially inner end 6. In a preferred embodiment, a majority of the medial section 8 of the flexible tie 3 comprises durable synthetic rope or cording.

A further structural component of the instant inventive assembly 1 comprises a percussive contact element 27. In the depicted embodiment, the percussive contact element 27 has a circumference between 8½ inches and 12½ inches, such dimension range matching the range of circumferential dimensions of common strikeable sporting projectiles represented by small little league baseballs through relatively large softballs. The circular geometry of the percussive contact element 27 is intended as being representative of other percussively contacted or struck supporting projectiles, such as disc shaped hockey pucks. In the fabrication of the instant inventive assembly, real baseballs, softballs, cricket balls, hockey pucks, and the like may be utilized.

Referring simultaneously to FIGS. 1-3, a further structural component of the instant inventive assembly comprises radially outer mounting means which are adapted for fixedly positioning the percussive contact element 27 at the radially outer end 11 of the flexible tie 3, such means preferably being adapted for facilitating pivoting or rotating motion of the percussive contact element 27 with respect to such tie end. While the invention's radially outer mounting means may suitably comprise a simple swivel joint (not depicted within views) which is fixed to the radially inner end of the percussive contact element, the radially outer mounting means preferably comprise a first cylindrically configured hollow bore 28 o,28 i. Such hollow bore configured mounting means preferably extend between and open at the radially outer end 29 and the radially inner end 25 of the percussive contact element 27. In the preferred embodiment, the radially inner hollow bore section 28 i communicates with and has a diameter which is less than such bore's radially outer section 28 o, such diameter differential advantageously creating an annular sleeve seating land 31.

The radially outer mounting means preferably further comprise a sleeve component which is referred to generally by Reference Arrow 30. Such sleeve 30 is preferably composed of molded durable plastic, cast aluminum or milled aluminum, and has an outside diameter fitted for a radially inward insertion into an nesting receipt within the radially outer section 28 o of the first tiered bore 28 o,28 i.

Similarly, with the first tiered bore 28 o,28 i, the sleeve 30 preferably incorporates a second tiered bore comprising a radially outer section 32 o, and a radially inner section 32 i, such radially outer section having a diameter greater than that of the radially inner section. In the preferred embodiment, a side wall opening or aperture 33 laterally communicates with the radially outer section 32 o of the second tiered bore, and a side wall slot 35 correspondingly communicates with the radially inner section 32 i of such bore. The second tiered bore 32 o,32 i, in combination with the laterally communicating port and slot 33 and 35, advantageously permits a lateral insertion of a swivel head 23 and stem 24 combination fastener into the second tiered bore 32 o,32 i. Upon such bore insertion, a radially inner annular land 24 of the swivel head 23 may radially inwardly bias against a radially outwardly facing and substantially “C” shaped land 51 formed at the diameter transition between the sections 32 o and 32 i of the sleeve's second tiered bore.

For purposes of durability during batting practice use, the radially outer end of the flexible tie 3 is preferably composed of a short length of durable steel cable 10 whose radially outer end is fixed to the radially inner end of fastener 23,24 by a crimped pressure sleeve 22.

Upon an application by the cable section 10 of a radially inwardly directed pulling force with respect to the percussive contact element 27, the annular land 24 of swivel head 23 may bias in hooking engagement against the “C” configured land 51 formed at the radially inner end of the radially outer section 32 o of the sleeve's second tiered bore, while a second substantially “C” configured land 37 at the radially inner end of the sleeve 30 biases and hooks against the first tiered bore's annular land 31. Accordingly, the instant invention's radially outer mounting means advantageously functions as a stop which resists the tendency of the percussive contact element 27 to detach from the radially outer end 11 of the flexible tie 3.

Upon an off-center strike of a bat against the percussive contact element 27 which induces rapid spinning of the percussive contact element 27 with respect of the cable 10, the abutting lands 24 and 51 within the sleeve 30 advantageously further function as a rotary bearing which resists translation of the percussive contact element's spin into twisting deformation of the cable 10.

In a preferred embodiment of the percussive contact element 27, a tubular plastic sleeve 39 lines the radially inner section 28 i of the mounting mean's first tiered bore. Also in the preferred embodiment, the sleeve component 30 presents an annular seam covering flange 38, and the extreme radially outer end of the sleeve is spherically configured to match the spherical curvature of the percussive contact element 27.

For purposes of ease of replacement and interchange of new or different percussive contact elements within the instant inventive assembly, a loop 16 fastened by a pressure fastener 18 at the radially outer end of the rope or cord section of the medial section 8 secures a clip fastener 20, while a similarly configured loop 12 and fastener 14 is presented at the radially inner end of the cable section 10. Such configuration of the flexible tie component of instant invention allows multiple renditions of the flexible contact element 27 which potentially have differing sizes and shapes, to be easily interchanged for percussive swing training use.

Referring simultaneously to FIGS. 1 and 4, a further structural component of the instant inventive percussive swing training assembly 1 comprises a medial handle 36 and medial handle mounting means which fixedly position the medial handle 36 at and upon the medial section 8 of the flexible tie 3. The medial handle mounting means preferably facilitate rotation of the medial handle 36 about and with respect to the medial section 8 of the flexible tie 3. In a preferred embodiment, the medial handle mounting means may comprise a hollow bore 38 which extends between and opens at the radially outer and inner ends 41 and 43 of the medial handle 36. To facilitate such swiveling and rotating action, the bore 38 is preferably lined by a tube or sleeve 40 which is secured upon the medial handle 36 by an adhesive 42. A radially inner stop, preferably in the form of a knot 9, is preferably secured upon the tie's medial section 8 for resisting the tendency of the medial section 8 to travel radially outwardly through the bore 38 upon centripetal orbiting motion of the percussive contact element 27. A substantially identical radially inner handle 44 is preferably positioned at the radially inner end 6 of the flexible tie 4, such radially inner handle 44 being similarly secured by a knot configured stop 48.

In use of the instant inventive assembly 1, referring simultaneously to all figures, a baseball coach 46 seeking to assist a right-handed baseball player 54 in need of batting training may grasp the assembly's medial handle 36 within his right hand 48. Thereafter, the coach 46 may swing the baseball configured percussive contact element 27 in a substantially circular orbital path 52. In a preferred mode of performance of a training method of use of the instant inventive assembly, such orbital path 52 is positioned and adjusted by the coach 46 so that the percussive contact element 27 cyclically passes through a standard strike zone 60 overlying a home plate marker 58. As the percussive contact element approaches the strike zone 60, the batter 54 may swing a bat 56 in a training attempt to make contact with the percussive contact element 27.

In a preferred embodiment of the instant inventive assembly 1, the medial section 8 of the flexible tie 3 includes an adjustable orbiting length 7 which extends from the medial handle 36 to the percussive contact element 27. The effective radius of such orbiting length 7 may be advantageously altered by loosening stop knot 9, and selectively adjusting the position of the stop knot 9 radially inwardly or radially outwardly along the medial section 8. For example, where the batter 54 is a little league baseball player in training for batting baseballs pitched from a distance of 46 feet, the length of the orbiting section 7 of the flexible tie 3 may be adjusted to provide an orbiting radius between 19 feet and 23 feet. Such radius adjustment advantageously allows the diameter of the orbital path of the contact element 27 to approximate a standard little league 46 feet pitching distance.

In the event that a swing of the bat 56 makes contact with the percussive contact element 27, such contact may violently propel the contact element 27 in a counter-orbiting motion about the coach 6. To forestall such awkward counter-winding, the coach may, upon hearing the bat strike, open his hand 46 to release the medial handle 36 while continuing to firmly grasp the radially inner handle 34 in the left hand 50. Upon such release of the medial handle 36, a radius enhancing section 2 of the flexible tie's medial section 8 instantaneously increases the effective radius between the coach's left hand 50 and the percussive contact element 27. Such increase in orbital radius advantageously resists or damps any violent counter-orbiting motion of the percussive contact element 27 about the coach 46. In a preferred embodiment, such radius enhancing section 2 is between four and six feet in length.

While the medial handle 36 may suitably be cylindrically configured, such handle preferably is spherically or spheroidally configured in order to promote ergonomic holding of the handle while allowing the handle to easily slide out of the coach's hand 48 upon a bat strike against the contact element 27. For purposes of economy in production through replication of components, the radially inner handle 44 is preferably identically spherically or spheroidally configured.

While the principles of the invention have been made clear in the above illustrative embodiment, those skilled in the art may make modifications to the structure, arrangement, portions and components of the invention without departing from those principles. Accordingly, it is intended that the description and drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in the limiting sense, and that the invention be given a scope commensurate with the appended claims. 

1-4 (canceled).
 5. The percussive swing training assembly of claim 10 further comprising a radially outer stop spanning operatively between the percussive contact element's radially outer end and the flexible tie's radially outer end.
 6. The percussive swing training assembly of claim 5 wherein the radially outer stop comprises a rotary bearing.
 7. The percussive swing training assembly of claim 6 wherein the radially outer stop's rotary bearing comprises a swivel head.
 8. The percussive swing training assembly of claim 5 further comprising a pair of radially inner stops positioned for radially outwardly biasing against the radially inner ends of the medial and radially inner handles.
 9. The percussive swing training assembly of claim 8 wherein the pair of radially inner stops comprise knots.
 10. A percussive swing training assembly comprising: (a) a flexible tie having a radially outer end, having a radially inner end, and having a medial section spanning between said ends; (b) a percussive contact element having radially inner and outer ends; (c) radially outer mounting means, said means comprising a first bore extending between the percussive contact elements radially inner and outer ends, and said means positioning the percussive contact element at the flexible tie's radially outer end, the first bore receiving the flexible tie's radially outer end and facilitating rotation of the percussive contact element with respect to the flexible tie's radially outer end; (d) a medial handle having radially inner and outer ends; and (e) medial mounting means comprising a second bore extending between the medial handle's inner and outer ends, the second bore receiving the medial handle at the flexible tie's medial section, said means facilitating rotation of the flexible tie's medial section with respect to the medial handle; (f) a radially inner handle having radially inner and outer ends; and (g) radially inner mounting means comprising a third bore extending between the radially inner handle's inner and outer ends, the third bore positioning the radially inner handle at the flexible tie's radially inner end, the third bore receiving the flexible tie's radially inner end and facilitating rotation of said end with respect to the radially inner handle; wherein the medial handle is spherical or spheroidal, and wherein the radially inner end of the medial handle is spherically curved.
 11. The percussive swing training assembly of claim 10 wherein the radially inner handle is spherical or spheroidal.
 12. The percussive swing training assembly of claim 11 wherein the percussive contact element is a sphere or a disk.
 13. The percussive swing training assembly of claim 12 wherein the percussive contact element has a circumference between 8½ inches and 12½ inches.
 14. The percussive swing training assembly of claim 10 wherein the radially outer mounting means comprise first and second tiered bores, each such bore having radially inner and radially outer sections, each such bore's radially outer section having a diameter greater than said each bore's radially inner section.
 15. The percussive swing training assembly of claim 14 further comprising a swivel head fixedly attached to the flexible tie's radially outer end, wherein the radially outer mounting means comprise a sleeve, and wherein the second tiered bore extends through the sleeve and opens laterally, said lateral opening being fitted for receipt of the swivel head.
 16. The percussive swing training assembly of claim 15 wherein the percussive contact element has radially outer and radially inner ends, and wherein the first tiered bore extends through the percussive contact element from the radially outer end to the radially inner end, and wherein the first tiered bore's radially outer section nestingly receives the sleeve.
 17. The percussive swing training assembly of claim 16 wherein the sleeve has a flanged radially outer end in biasing contact with the radially outer end of the percussive contact element. 